Reflux Laryngitis

John P. Cunha, DO, FACOEP

John P. Cunha, DO, is a U.S. board-certified Emergency Medicine Physician. Dr. Cunha's educational background includes a BS in Biology from Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, and a DO from the Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences in Kansas City, MO. He completed residency training in Emergency Medicine at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center in Newark, New Jersey.

Jay W. Marks, MD

Jay W. Marks, MD, is a board-certified internist and gastroenterologist. He graduated from Yale University School of Medicine and trained in internal medicine and gastroenterology at UCLA/Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

Why does reflux laryngitis occur?

Reflux is caused by weakness in the muscle at the junction of the esophagus
with the stomach. Normally, this muscular valve, or sphincter, functions to keep
food and stomach acid from moving upward from the stomach to the esophagus and
larynx. This valve opens to allow food into the stomach and closes to keep the
stomach's contents from coming back up. The backward movement of stomach
contents (gastric contents) up into the esophagus is called gastroesophageal reflux.

Additionally, any increase in abdominal pressure (such as obesity
or tight clothing),
which can push acid back from the stomach up the esophagus, or a patient with
a hiatal hernia, will have an increased risk for reflux. When it causes
symptoms, it is referred to as gastroesophageal reflux disease (or GERD).
When the acid backs up into the voice box (larynx), the condition is referred to
as reflux laryngitis.

Stomach acid can cause irritation of the lining of the
esophagus, larynx, and throat. This can lead to:

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